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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Andy Philip

Anas Sarwar and Monica Lennon make final pitch for Scottish Labour leader job

The Scottish Labour leadership contest is drawing to a close with the winner being announced this weekend.

Only two candidates stepped forward for the job - Anas Sarwar and Monica Lennon.

Both MSPs have just one full day left to secure those last votes to replace Richard Leonard and attempt to steer the party back to success in May's Holyrood election.

Sarwar and Lennon have attempted to dodge the heated clashes of previous leadership battles knowing whoever wins has a big job ahead to convince Scots to support a party which was previously viewed as the natural party of government.

That all changed with the rise of the SNP, and more recently, their eclipse at Holyrood by the Scottish Conservatives.

In their final pitches to supporters, both candidates told the Record what they hope to do to get the party back on track.

Lennon has been instrumental in pushing forward landmark legislation to get free period products supplied in Scotland, something she highlights in her CV for the top job.

Sarwar has focused on attempts to reunite the party while trying to resist any move towards another independence referendum.

Leonard quit in January, days after saying he was determined to fight for every vote in the election this May.

The Central Scotland MSP announced: "I have come to the conclusion it is in the best interests of the party that I step aside as leader of Scottish Labour with immediate effect.

"This was not an easy decision, but after three years I feel it is the right one for me and for the party."

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